The 2025 Annual Rider Survey revealed a clear and urgent message: safety is a top rider advocacy issue, and one of the leading reasons why riders may consider leaving the sport earlier than planned. In response, The Cyclists’ Alliance Rider Council is issuing the following statement ahead of the Spring Classics calling on all stakeholders to take shared responsibility and concrete action to improve safety across the sport:
As we step into the 2026 season, we do so with energy, belief, and a shared purpose. As The Cyclists’ Alliance Rider Council, we are united around the powerful idea that when safety leads, our sport rises.
When riders feel protected and respected, we race harder, inspire more, and build a sport that lasts. A strong, sustainable sport is one where athletes can push limits with confidence that the limiter is their own effort and not the environment around them. As the Rider Council, we call on all riders to join us in our commitment to the sport.
As the Rider Council, we commit to racing with professionalism, with respect, and with compassion.
We will signal hazards, communicate clearly, respect vehicles, reduce unnecessary aggression, and protect one another in the peloton. We believe fiercely in competition, and equally in care. The most powerful victories are those achieved in an environment where every rider has the chance to finish safely.
Today we also invite all stakeholders in the sport to join us in our commitment to safety.
Riders, teams, sport directors, fans, race organisers, commissaires, motorbike drivers, and federations all contribute to the conditions in which we compete.
We have already seen what is possible when safety is prioritised and when the cycling ecosystem works together to create safe races. From thoughtful course design and well-trained moto drivers to clear communication and appropriate course assessments, it is possible to reduce safety risks without losing the excitement that defines cycling. Let’s make these safety habits the rule instead of the exception.
Safety is not optional.
It is not negotiable.
Together, we can build a sport that lasts.
The Cyclists’ Alliance Rider Council
